The MG42 (shortened from German:
Maschinengewehr 42, or "Machine Gun 42") is a machine
gun that was developed for and entered service with Nazi
Germany in 1942, during World
War II. The 7.92
mmriflecaliber
weapon was developed from, and was intended to supplant the MG34
machine gun, though both were manufactured and used until the end of the war.[1]
The MG42 has a proven record of reliability, durability, simplicity, and ease of
operation, but is most notable for being able to produce a stunning volume of
suppressive fire. The MG42 has one of the highest average rates
of fire of any single-barreled light machine gun, between 1,200 and 1,500
rpm, resulting in a distinctive muzzle report. There were other automatic weapon
designs with similar firepower at its inception, such as the Hungarian-Gebauer
single-barreled tank MGs and the Russian 7.62 mm GShak aircraft gun. However,
the MG42's belt-feed and quick-change barrel system allowed for more prolonged
firing in comparison to these weapons.